The Ring

Every time we tell people we are engaged they ask the same three questions.

1. How did he propose?
2. Have you set a date yet?
3. Can I see the ring?

For the answer to question one, please see our earlier posts. The answer to question two is we are still working on it and for question three see the pictures below.

Enjoy!

Colleen's Version of the Proposal

It was a very snowy Friday and I got out of work early. I went over to Josh's house because he had a great date night planned for us. I had no idea what we were going to do at all until I saw that he was looking up train schedules online and realized that we were going to the city.

So, we braved the snow and went to the train station. The trains were running a little late because of the storm, but it finally came. The train car that ended up having seats had no heat, but we sat there anyway.

So we get to Grand Central and I'm so excited by this point because I have no idea what's going on. Josh at this point wants to throw up because he knows exactly what's going on. So, I ask him where we are going and he said we are just going to start walking.

We start walking down the streets and the snow, at this point, has turned to wintry mix in New York. So we continue walking and get to Bryant Park. We walk through the park until we get to a bunch of chairs and tables. Everything is covered in perfect snow and there is no one in the park. It was so nice and peaceful. So, we stop at the tables and chairs and Josh tells me that we are going to do an activity. At first I was thinking, what? It's freezing out here. I didn't say that of course, I said, "So, what are we doing?"

Josh knows that I really love Christmas and how I've always loved decorating the tree with ornaments because I love that each ornament means something. Josh and I never got to decorate a tree together and that's what we would be doing. At this point, I started to forget that it was cold outside and got excited because he pulled a mini Christmas tree out from his bag. I was so shocked. It was so cute. He put it on one of the snow covered tables. Then he told me that he was going to have me unwrap ornaments that he got me that symbolized different parts of our relationship. My eyes lite up then.

The first ornament was a bulldog. It was our first date. The food there was actually not that great and the place is closed now, but that doesn't mean anything. So I hung the bulldog on the tree.

The second ornament was a tree frog. It was from our date at the Maritime Center. I love that place. It's so cool.

The third ornament was a bucket of popcorn and a movie on it that said Planet Earth. This was from our first kiss. ;)

The fourth ornament was a grand piano. On the piano it said Billy Joel and it had the date we went to the concert. That was the best concert I have ever gone to. We were so close to him and he played the best songs.

The fifth ornament was of a bowling ball, a bowling bag, and bowling shoes. It almost looks like a little person. It was so funny because right away it made me think of when my parents came up to surprise us and after an intense game of mini golf, we played a couple exciting games of bowling. I was so tired that night.

The last ornament was of the Radio City sign and a Rockette standing right next to it. I immediately started to get really excited.

Then Josh said to me, "And that's what we are doing tonight to celebrate."

I was like "Yay! Let's celebrate!"

Then he said to me, "You don't even know what we are celebrating."

I was like, "Oh yeah, what are we celebrating?'

Then Josh got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! All I could say was "Oh my Gosh" about 40-50 times covering my mouth, then I realized I didn't give him an answer and said "Oh my Gosh Josh, YES!!"

Then we hugged and cried and I didn't want to let go of him.

The Proposal by Josh

I proposed to Colleen on Friday Night in Bryant Park in NYC. Here is how it happened ...

We took the train into Grand Central and arrived just before 6PM. I should note that the closer we got to Grand Central the closer I got to throwing up. Unbeknown to Colleen I was very very nervous. It was 30 degrees and hailing/snowing/freezing rain when we arrived in the city. We walked down a couple of blocks on 42nd Street to Bryant Park. When we arrived at Bryant Park we walked over to a table that was caked with about 5 inches of snow. I then told Colleen that it was now time for our activity.

I told her that since we didn't get to decorate a Christmas tree this year, we should decorate one tonight. It is important to mention here that Colleen loves decorating Christmas trees, especially with ornaments that have special meaning. I then pulled out from my bag a 15" Christmas Tree and placed it in the snow on top of the table.

I then pulled from my bag a wrapped ornament and told Colleen that every ornament I give her represents something from our relationship.

The first ornament I gave her was a ceramic bulldog. On our first date we ate dinner at Bulldog in South Norwalk. It is now out of business.

The second ornament I gave her was a frog stuffed animal. Our first day date was at the Maritime Aquarium in South Norwalk.

The third ornament I gave her was a movie reel with 'Planet Earth' written on it. Our first kiss was during this movie.

The fourth ornament I gave her was a piano with 'Billy Joel 06/28/08' written on it. One of our favorite dates was when we saw Billy Joel in concert seated on the 16th row!

The fifth ornament I gave her was a bowling ball with a bag and shoes. Written on the bag was the words 'Spare Me'. When Colleen's parents came for a surprise visit last summer we went out to eat, mini-golf and then at the end of mini-golf (about 10PM). Colleen's Dad said, "Well, its 10PM on a Friday Night ... what do you want to do next?" We proceeded to go bowling for another hour and a half. It was great.

The sixth and final ornament was of a Rockette next to Radio City Music Hall. I told Colleen that this ornament represented what we were going to do tonight to celebrate. She replied, "Yeah - lets celebrate." I then said, "You don't even know what we're celebrating". She s aid, "Oh yeah, what are we celebrating?" I then got down on one knee pulled the ring from my pocket and said, "Colleen, Will you marry me?"

What followed was stream of "Oh my Goshes", covering her mouth with her hands and plenty of tears. She then, noticing that I was still waiting for an answer (which although only a few seconds felt like an eternity) said. "Oh my gosh, Yes Josh!".

We then hugged and cried liked babies!

Colleen's Reaction about a minute after I proposed.